Jess: He continues begging to let him go, but why the hell would I do that? He couldn’t follow a simple instruction. I despise it when someone fails me. He didn’t just disobey me—he had the audacity to lie to my face. Imagine my shock when I spotted my step-sister from a distance, looking healthy and very much alive. Despite Mother warning me not to go near her, my curiosity got the better of me. I drove to the hospital and sat in my car for hours, watching and waiting. Eventually, I saw her walking out of the building with a colleague. Selene looked good—too good. She’s healthy, glowing even, and it fills me with rage. The urge to kill her right then and there coursed through me. She shouldn’t be alive. I paid good money to make sure she was gone, but somehow, it seems she has nine lives. Her reappearance in my life is nothing short of catastrophic. Just as Maximus has been growing distant, she decides to show up. I know exactly why she’s back in New York City. It’s all beca
Maximus’ POV I dodge the lamp post that’s thrown my way, narrowly avoiding it as it crashes into the ground behind me. I expect my father to be angry, but I don’t expect him to react with such violent fury. This isn’t the first time he’s treated me like this. He’s hit me countless times ever since I was a child. He called it discipline, but I call it cruelty. He said it was to shape me into a fine gentleman, but all it did was leave me traumatized. It took years to rid myself of the fear he instilled in me, and I think Selene played a big part in that. She was always there, comforting me during my nightmares, making sure I wasn’t alone. I haven’t had one of those in years now. He should be grateful, though. I’m giving Infinity Corporation more recognition. The orphanage I’m building is all anyone can talk about in this city. I’m no philanthropist, but I genuinely believe every child deserves a happy childhood—something I never got to experience. I never knew what joy was as
Selene’s POV I pace around the living room, trying to ease the tension building up inside me. My mom watches me carefully from the couch with an unwavering.gaze. She’s been observing me like this for days now, though I haven’t said much about what’s been bothering me. If there’s one thing my mom knows about me, it’s that when I’m frustrated, I need space. She doesn’t press me to talk, doesn’t demand I open up. She waits patiently, giving me the time I need, only stepping in when I’m ready. But today, I feel like I’m on the edge. My head is spinning, and I can’t seem to find any peace. Work at the hospital has been a whirlwind—busy and exhausting. While I’m grateful to be in a position I love, it sometimes feels like too much. The constant pressure to perform, the never-ending cycle of tasks… it all piles up. And then there are the kids. They’ve been clingier than usual, especially Anna, constantly asking about their father. I’ve managed to calm them down a bit, scolding Anna th
Maximus POV Life feels like it’s finally tilting in my favor. My father and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms, but I know I’ve struck a nerve where it hurts him most. Calling him out for stealing from my company is the highlight of my day. The best part? He didn’t even bother denying it, which only makes me more certain. Benjamin was never bold enough to siphon money from Infinity Corporation on his own. I’ve always known he had someone backing him—a heavyweight powerful enough to orchestrate it all. And honestly, no one fits that profile better than my father. I don’t even want to dwell on that right now—not with the orphanage shooting up so quickly. If I ever decide to go after Benjamin, I’ve got more than enough evidence to ruin him for good. My thoughts drift to Selene. I have to find a way to reach her, even after all the times she’s shut me out. When Raymond mentioned he spotted her at one of his business lunches and she acted like she didn’t even recognize him, i
Selene's POV “I already told you no, Avery. Stop pushing it. When someone says no, it means no!” I say sharply with my voice cutting through the noise of the hallway. Avery grabs at my coat and then stomps her feet like an overgrown child. A few doctors glance our way, and I feel heat rising in my cheeks, embarrassment prickling my skin. But Avery doesn’t seem to care about the attention she’s attracting. It’s like she’s on a mission, acting as if dragging me along is some life-or-death matter. I can’t understand it—why she’s so hell-bent on making me her sidekick. As if I don’t already have enough chaos at home with Asher and Anna constantly pulling pranks and complaining about their father’s absence. Now, I get Avery’s antics at work, too. Do I ever get a break? “You always say no,” she shoots back, frustration bleeding into her voice. “You never want to go to car races, restaurants, bars—nothing. And now this? What kind of friend are you, Selene? I always do what yo
Jess’ pov: “He rejected me. Pushed me away like I meant nothing to him,” I grumble, anger bubbling up inside me, threatening to spill over. “Maximus doesn’t even want me anymore, and I don’t understand why. I know I’m beautiful, undeniably sexy, so what changed? Why can’t he look at me the way he used to?” Beads of sweat form on my forehead and I can feel my patience wearing thin. My thoughts keep circling back, over and over, until the answer finally hits me like a slap in the face. “This is all because of Selene!” I slam my fists on the table, the sharp sound echoing in the empty room. The frustration boiling inside me is almost unbearable. “Ever since she came back to town, everything changed. Maximus stopped finding me attractive the moment she showed up.” The name tastes bitter on my tongue. Selene. Always Selene. Just thinking about that night makes my blood boil. I had even lowered myself to begging, trying desperately to spark something in him. But nothing worked.
Selene: I take a deep breath, letting the gentle breeze brush against my skin and lightly toss my hair. The park has always been one of my favorite places, especially in the evenings. Ever since I was a kid, this was where I found peace. Normally, I’d have brought Asher and Anna with me, but they were too wrapped up in their video games to even notice I’d stepped out. I just needed to escape the house for a while. My mind feels cluttered, weighed down by everything. Lately, even the kids and Mom have started noticing the shift in my mood. Ever since my argument with Avery, things at work have been unbearably awkward. She’s been keeping her distance, only speaking to me when we’re in surgery or during intern training. Other than that, whenever we cross paths in the lobby, she gives me a quick greeting and walks away without another word. Most people at the hospital have noticed the awkward tension between Avery and me. It’s written all over their faces when they pass us
Maximus POV My cheeks ache from smiling so much. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this kind of happiness. Seeing Selene at the park the other day, sitting with Kylie, brought everything into perspective for me. The way Selene laughed and chatted with her, like she was Kylie’s own mother, stirred something deep inside me. For a moment, I let myself imagine them as mother and daughter. I told myself I was just there to find Kylie, but the truth is, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the scene. I haven’t seen Kylie smile like that in ages. There’s a light in her eyes, a genuine admiration as she looks up at Selene—something I never see when she’s with Jess. Whenever Kylie is around her mother, she’s so quiet, so careful, like she’s terrified one wrong move will make Jess snap. It breaks my heart. I can’t help but wish Selene had been her mother instead. If only they could reconnect. I thought seeing Selene with Kylie might open the door to a conversation, but all I
Maximus’ POV"Asher, slow down! The ice cream isn’t going anywhere," I grunt, watching my son sprint ahead like he’s in some kind of race. "If you fall, I swear I won’t feel bad for you this time. I’m serious—get back here!"Of course, he doesn’t listen. If anything, he runs even faster, making me chase him like some desperate lunatic.I give up. I’m already exhausted, and the last thing I need is to pass out because my kids are being their usual mischievous selves.Beside me, Raymond chuckles, clearly enjoying my suffering. I shoot him a sharp look, and just like that, his laughter dies."I don’t think you’re in any position to laugh," I scowl, crossing my arms. "This is your fault. You had one job, Raymond. One. Look after them till I got back. I don’t need you to be the ‘cool uncle’—I need you to be the responsible one. No wonder Avery doesn’t like you.Please, for the love of everything good, remind me never to let you babysit again. You’re the worst."He grins, completely unfazed
Maximus: My heart skips a beat. “That bomb explosion was meant to take out everyone, including Benjamin, whom I sent. That’s right, Maximus, I’m the one behind your sabotage,” he continues, grinning widely. “The orphanage, the construction worker, Henry O'Hara, sending you those threatening messages—it was all me. And I must say, I had fun, but now the fun is over. My sidekick is dead. I told him I don’t like loose ends, so I had to end his life. Benjamin is practically useless to me.” It’s one shocking revelation after another. First Jess, now this?! What’s next? “You’re lucky Raymond survived. I don’t know how he got out of the building on time, but that’s not my business. My fight isn’t with him.” Mason steps closer “Now come over here, let’s go, Selene. I’ve already arranged a plane to take us anywhere you want. We can get married and live however we want.” Selene takes a step back as Mason points a gun at us. I move her behind me, determined not to let my brother hurt th
Maximus POV It’s been over an hour since the police took Jess away, and the weight of it all still hasn’t fully hit me. She’s finally going to pay for what she’s done. Her words echo in my head, and I can’t seem to shake them. I can’t believe all these years I’ve been lied to—Kylie isn’t even my daughter. Jess has been deceiving me all this time. But I won’t let that define how I see Kylie. I will prove Jess wrong. When I look at my child, I won’t see someone else’s daughter. I’ll see my daughter, and nothing Jess says will change that. If she thinks that I’m going to hate Kylie because of her lies, she’s sorely mistaken. Kylie has always been the light in my life. She’s the reason I’ve been able to endure this broken marriage for as long as I have. Every morning, seeing her smile makes everything worth it. The thought of ever telling her she wasn’t mine is unthinkable, especially with the anxiety issues she’s been battling thanks to Jess. I would never put that on her—she’
Selene: I take an involuntary step back as panic courses through my veins. "What are you doing here? How are you out?" My voice comes out shaky, my mind racing. How is he not behind bars? He poisoned me. He almost killed me. I can’t comprehend how he’s standing in front of me, free. He must see the confusion in my eyes, because he immediately starts talking, as though he’s read my thoughts. "I know what you're thinking," he says, his tone hesitant but strangely apologetic. “What am I doing out of jail? Well, I can't tell you how I got out. I didn't escape if that's what you're thinking. I just... I wanted to apologize." I feel an odd sense of dread twist in my gut. "Apologize?" I repeat, incredulously. I take another cautious step back. I don’t trust him. Not after what he did to me. Not after what he almost did. His eyes are desperate, almost pleading, as he moves closer, and I instinctively take another step back, my body going tense. "I lied," he continues, his voice low. “I
Selene: My life feels like it's spiraling, like a country song with all its ups and downs. I'm drowning in the weight of it, but there's no time for wallowing in despair. That’s exactly what Jess wants, and I'm not going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me broken. When Anna and Asher get back from their outing with Maximus, the first thing they do is run straight looking for Nelly. My heart tightens, knowing the truth that they can’t yet understand. How do I explain to them that the woman they trusted—who took care of them, played with them, and protected them—was the same person who orchestrated their kidnapping and tried to take my life over the past few months? How do I explain that? It hits my mom the hardest. She’s known Nelly for years, taken her in like family. To find out that the woman she trusted was behind this all… it’s breaking her. She doesn’t say much, just quiet and distant. But I can see the sadness in her eyes. She tells me she’ll heal, just needs time
Selene’s POV: Without thinking, I slam her door open, my anger boiling over. How dare she?! After everything, after I took her in, trusted her, and let her live under my roof like family. I feel like a fool. How could I not see that something was off about Nelly all this time? She’s been my enemy this whole time, and I didn’t even realize it. "Selene, I’m fine. I’m just frustrated," Nelly says, her voice trembling slightly. "I wanted to go to the bathroom, but then I remembered that I can't walk. I almost hurt myself, but I’m fine. Really." I can’t even look at her. How does she act so innocent, so pretentious, when I know what she's done to me? How does she stand there, pretending like nothing happened? Every instinct tells me to slap her, to make her feel the weight of what she’s done. But I know it wouldn’t be worth it. I’ve already called the cops. It won’t be long now before she’s where she belongs. I can't hold it in any longer. The words spill out of me, bitter and furio
Selene: If life had a spinning wheel, mine would be spinning out of control. Chaos. That’s what my world feels like. One disaster after another, piling on top of each other until I can barely breathe. First, I got hit by a car. Then, I barely survived being poisoned. Not long after that, my children were kidnapped from school. And now? Now Nelly is stuck in a wheelchair, with no clear answer on when—or if—she’ll ever walk again. Whoever ran her over wasn’t just reckless. They were brutal. She’s devastated. She barely leaves her room, convinced that her life is over. That she’s useless to me now. Nothing I say seems to get through to her. She keeps insisting that I’ll fire her—abandon her—because she can’t take care of Anna and Asher anymore. As if she’s just some employee. She’s family. My mom adores her. My kids love her. I wish she could see that. I wish she could understand that she’s not alone in this. At least the driver was arrested. A drunk driver. In the m
Maximus POV His eyes flick to Anna, then back to me, a smirk playing on his lips. "You do have kids elsewhere," he says, his tone laced with something unreadable. "And might I say, your daughter is your exact copy. So? Aren’t you going to introduce me to my niece and nephew?" I don’t respond. I can’t. He studies my expression, his smirk deepening. "Why are you looking at me like that? You seem… tense. What’s going on?" I force myself to mask my shock, but my mind is racing. What the hell is Mason doing here? And more importantly—how does he know about Selene and the kids? I get that Anna looks exactly like me, but why does Mason automatically assume Selene is their mother? There are plenty of women he could have considered—so why her? My stomach twists. He’s obsessed. And I don’t like it. It’s like he thinks Selene belongs to him. Like she’s some prize he missed out on. Did he follow me here? I didn’t even notice if someone was tailing me. That’s what bothers me th
Maximus’ POV For the first time in days, I feel a sense of relief. My kids are safe. That’s all that matters. Even though Anna sprained her wrist and has to wear a bandage for now, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of pride. Turns out, she was the one riling up their kidnapper, protecting Asher from getting hit. I guess whoever took them doesn’t like quick-witted kids. Anna may have my looks, but she’s got Selene’s sharp tongue. And while that might have made things worse for her in that hellhole, I’m glad she never backed down. She’s strong. What I don’t feel good about is Selene still believing I had something to do with this. No matter what I say, no matter what I do, she refuses to let go of the idea that I was involved. And honestly? I’m getting tired of proving my innocence. But nothing could have prepared me for the shock I got this morning. Selene called me—early. Good thing I spent the night at the office. If I’d been home, Jess would have started nagging